Nearly a year ago, YouTube rolled out their “auto-generated channels,” which are channels created to curate content based on relevant topics. Think of them as YouTube-created playlists. When they first appeared, auto-generated channels were strictly limited to the “Top YouTube Collections” tab and intended for broad topics such as “Snowboarding” (see image below). However, it was recently discovered that YouTube is now taking these auto-generated channels one-step further.

Auto-generated channels are now appearing in such places as YouTube search results, video watch pages, and even Google search results. What’s even more interesting is that they are pulling some very niche topics for their auto-generated channels.

Auto-Generated Results in YouTube Search Results

As a Video SEM Specialist working at BLASTmedia, a social media marketing agency, I’m continually working with clients on their YouTube marketing strategies. Included in this is the task of optimizing videos for targeted keywords to appear within YouTube search. For one client in particular, many of the videos I’m optimizing are related to “inventory control software” (definitely not as common as snowboarding, but still equally important for small business owners). Recently I noticed an auto-generated channel appearing in the search results just below one of the videos I was optimizing for the keyword, “inventory control.”

But what’s even better is that my optimized video content was included in the thumbnail of the auto-generated channel. Now, think about the impact this has a users’ search habits: Seeing two similar thumbnails parallel to one another only reinforces the fact that your content is likely the optimal choice.

Of course, YouTube has yet to disclose their algorithm for choosing which content to include in the auto-generated channels and its search thumbnail, but I think it’s safe to say these auto-generated channels or “playlists” contain highly relevant content based on the given topic. Here’s a statement directly from the YouTube blog:

“Lots of complex algorithms are working behind the scenes to give you the channel you’re looking for, for example, being able to tell when the word ‘Chicago’ means the music band and when it means the movie/musical. We’re still tweaking everything to make sure it works just right for you, so let us know what you think of the channels or learn more in our help center.”

Auto-generated Channels on YouTube's Video Watch Page

Not only are these auto-generated channels creeping into YouTube search results, but they also appear to have invaded the video watch page:

But what’s interesting is that this auto-generated channel is not based on a topic. No, in fact the channel was created based on the channel and its content. YouTube has pulled content from the YouTube channel itself and curated it into one single place (one that users can subscribe to as well!) Of course, this doesn’t take the place of a well-optimized and socially active YouTube channel, but it’s still worth noting.

Google Search Results

As YouTube expands the visibility of its auto-generated channels, it is not much of a surprise that they would show up in Google search as well. After a recent search for “YouTube duplicate content” within Google search, it was clear that YouTube auto-generated channel results had permeated into Google SERPS.

Clicking on the above search result for “Duplicate Content & Multiple Site Issues” yielded this landing page on YouTube (note it’s an auto-generated channel centered around the keyword “Duplicate content”):

While the result above definitely proves this notion, it has yet to be seen how often this is occurring, as the other keywords like “inventory control” and “Eton blog” do not yield any of the same results in Google search.

It’s yet to be determined how widespread these auto-generated channels have become, but YouTube seems to be confident enough to begin displaying them more publicly. For Video SEMs, it’s another facet for your content to attract even more eyeballs. And isn't that what we all want?

Are you seeing these auto-generated channels more frequently? - Drop us a comment below and let us know what you think about the apparent push of auto-generated channel throughout YouTube and Google search.

NOTE: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributing author and not necessarily that of ReelSEO.com

oba888

wow... how about that! hasn't Google always looked down upon (condemned even) auto-content? them saying that its only niche related content being gathered is not an excuse. it seems like they have pushed out any competition who has garnered this same technique. Google does not like to share!

JonCampbell

Is this only available in the US? I'm in the UK and have tried a few different searches across various topics and am not seeing any auto-created channels.

http://www.reelseo.com/ reelseo

@JonCampbell That's interesting. So, if you go to youtube and search for "internet marketing" as an example, you don't see a result with the auto-generated YouTube channel?

Julie Perry

@reelseo@JonCampbell Hey Jon: How about if you go to this channel (which is one of the ones @blake_fife mentions in his article, for "Eton blog"): http://www.youtube.com/blogs/id/BtRsZesHtw4 -- Can you at least pull that channel up?

By the way, I notice that that Eton blog auto-generated channel is pulling all YT videos that have been embedded over on the EtonCorp.com blog, including Playlists. It has simply made a feed of the exact videos appearing on the blog, and it looks to be in chronological order from when they were posted. I wonder if they're going to start doing that with blogs that frequently embed YouTube videos.

Here's an auto-generated channel just around the topic "iPhone" that came up in YouTube search: http://www.youtube.com/topic/gnAnfPNA_aY/iphone (hope that link shows up).... It has 10,409+ subscribers already. @JonCampbell can you pull that up, and can you subscribe to it or see it in search?

ReelSEO

I guess it's an easy way to curate content and create tons of channels... We'll have to wait and see I suppose. It's a little concerning as they're now competing with us all, and the rankings of them don't seem to follow the same algorithm rules.

Julie Perry

I'm also curious why they are starting to push these more. Thus far, no ads are running on these auto-generated channels (at least on the ones I've seen), but with the way you're able to target display ads now via Adwords for Video, I imagine it's on their mind. Kinda crazy that you can subscribe to these.

Brett Bumeter

hmmm so in addition to ranking a video in google, and ranking a video in youtube search, it might next become important to rank a video in google's (content farm) auto-generated channels.

I wonder if they push users videos into these channels to 1) control the ads that are shown channel level, 2) not share channel ad level revenue, 3) perform their own seo efforts on their channel to be number one over other channels (regardless of quality or lack there of on a real channel)

again, hmmmmmmm

oba888

wow... how about that! hasn't Google always looked down upon (condemned even) auto-content? them saying that its only niche related content being gathered is not an excuse. it seems like they have pushed out any competition who has garnered this same technique. Google does not like to share!

JonCampbell

Is this only available in the US? I'm in the UK and have tried a few different searches across various topics and am not seeing any auto-created channels.

http://www.reelseo.com/ reelseo

@JonCampbell That's interesting. So, if you go to youtube and search for "internet marketing" as an example, you don't see a result with the auto-generated YouTube channel?

Julie Perry

@reelseo@JonCampbell Hey Jon: How about if you go to this channel (which is one of the ones @blake_fife mentions in his article, for "Eton blog"): http://www.youtube.com/blogs/id/BtRsZesHtw4 -- Can you at least pull that channel up?

By the way, I notice that that Eton blog auto-generated channel is pulling all YT videos that have been embedded over on the EtonCorp.com blog, including Playlists. It has simply made a feed of the exact videos appearing on the blog, and it looks to be in chronological order from when they were posted. I wonder if they're going to start doing that with blogs that frequently embed YouTube videos.

Here's an auto-generated channel just around the topic "iPhone" that came up in YouTube search: http://www.youtube.com/topic/gnAnfPNA_aY/iphone (hope that link shows up).... It has 10,409+ subscribers already. @JonCampbell can you pull that up, and can you subscribe to it or see it in search?

ReelSEO

I guess it's an easy way to curate content and create tons of channels... We'll have to wait and see I suppose. It's a little concerning as they're now competing with us all, and the rankings of them don't seem to follow the same algorithm rules.

Julie Perry

I'm also curious why they are starting to push these more. Thus far, no ads are running on these auto-generated channels (at least on the ones I've seen), but with the way you're able to target display ads now via Adwords for Video, I imagine it's on their mind. Kinda crazy that you can subscribe to these.

Brett Bumeter

hmmm so in addition to ranking a video in google, and ranking a video in youtube search, it might next become important to rank a video in google's (content farm) auto-generated channels.

I wonder if they push users videos into these channels to 1) control the ads that are shown channel level, 2) not share channel ad level revenue, 3) perform their own seo efforts on their channel to be number one over other channels (regardless of quality or lack there of on a real channel)